Quartz VS Automatic watches

V

Vermont woodsman

Joined
Jan 22, 2005
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212
Im looking at watches and notice the same watches are made in either automatic or quartz. The quartz seems to be a little less expensive. Id like to hear the pros or cons please. Do automatics need alot of maintenance? Are they worth the few extra dollars? I kinda do like the sweep second hand on an automatic.
 
A quartz watch will be more accurate and take shock better than an automatic. A good automatic will be accurate enough that you probably won't notice the minor loss/gain for a considerable length of time. I wear a cheap quartz watch at work. It takes a beating everyday. On my time, I wear an Omega SMP.
It all boils down to what YOU want in a watch. Quality time pieces can be had in either.

Paul
 
I'm into accuracy, so it's quartz for me. I also don't want to have to re-set the time every few days to keep the correct time, or if I don't wear the watch for awhile and it goes dead.
 
is the undefinable aspect of "soul" important to you? It's not me, so I want a quartz.
 
Hi All-

I have a large collection that contains both. Everything from discount store quartz digitals right up to beautiful Audemars Piguet automatics. Except for the roughest conditions, an automatic can be found on my wrist. If I'm doing heavy labor in the dirt with powertools, I switch to something like a Casio G-Shock. Other than that, it's a cool stainless steel automatic of some sort.

An automatic definitely has that "soul" that DaveH mentioned above. It is hard to describe, but it's there. Maintenance should occur about every five to six years depending on use. They also will last for many generations with reasonable care, as I explained on the "Are Expensive Watches Worth It" thread. A quartz should be purchased with the understanding that it's a disposable item and even the nicest ones will be discarded in about twenty years or so after the circuitry is spent.

The primary advantage of quartz models is resistance to shocks and increased accuracy due to the higher electronic vibrations that measure time. A well-appointed man or woman should try to have both kinds of watches in their collection if possible.

~ Blue Jays ~
 
Blue Jays, you wrote, "A quartz should be purchased with the understanding that it's a disposable item and even the nicest ones will be discarded in about twenty years or so after the circuitry is spent." Please, could you elaborate on this statement as it's the first time I've heard something like this. It's downright scary :( . I have an Omega Seamaster Professional quartz, two tone (gold/stainless), small face, circa early 90's that I bought before I got into watches. I would most likely purchase an automatic now. However, I'll be appalled if what you say happens to be true, especially with an Omega quartz movement. Please...................say it isn't so :confused: .
EricO
 
I´m not sure about having to discard the whole watch, but apparently the circuits do wear out, and at that point it is probably cheaper to at least discard and replace the entire movement, rather than try to repair it. That being said, there are differences regarding the lifetime of quartz movements. The 9F movement of the Grand Seiko quartz line is supposed to run for 50 years before requiring maintenance :eek: - though I wouldn´t know how sure Seiko is of that number: the oldest of these watches are just a bit older than a decade, maybe there will be many angry owners by 2040. ;)

Kristofer
 
A circuit will generally last far longer than a mechanical device at any given level of quality. It is true that most $10,000 automatics will outlast most $10 electronics. That is probably not true of most $500 electronics.

Once a watch becomes expensive enough that it's worth actually repairing it instead of replacing it, electronics are every bit as serviceable as automatics. Companies like Suunto, Seiko, and Citizen will repair their electronic watches for a very reasonable fee. Most automatics require regular repairs to remain functional, but their makers like to call that "maintenance". ;)

Quartz watches have not yet been around long enough to match lifespans with the automatics, but some of the earliest electronic watches made are still functioning. A friend of mine wears a watch that he inherited when his father passed away. His father got it some time in the 60's as a military prototype.

--Bob Q
 
I prefer auto, unless its my dad's Citizen 4Mhz (+/- 4 secs a yr) or something the the Seiko 7C46
 
I have a couple of Swatch quartz watches and they both work just fine.
I bought one back in 1988 and the other in 1991.

And even if they did only last about twenty years--that means you would only have to have them replaced or repaired five times in your entire life, from cradle to grave, if you were lucky enough to live 100 years.

Allen.
 
1977 King Quartz

ks4.jpg


(sorry for the poor picture)

Runs a little fast. But otherwise good.

ks_crown2.jpg


Mark
 
The inevitable Road Warrior or Castaway situations we will all encounter call for automatic movements.

Batteries die, kinetic and solar are unreliable.

You don't want to be the guy that wakes up Lord Humongous late from his nap! ;)
 
Hi EricO-

You can anticipate excellent service from your Omega Seamaster Professional quartz watch. After about twenty years (give or take) the circuitry will eventually be spent and the watch will no longer function, regardless of battery strength. The Omega factory will then try to retrofit whatever quartz technology they're using in the year 2030 or simply advise you to discard the watch if it isn't cost-effective to conduct the repair. I've found this factory to be fair when it comes to repairs, so they'll help you make the best decision when the time comes.

Both types of watches absolutely have their place, which is why I like to always have both types of watches available. If I'm traveling I have a steel dress watch with an automatic movement and a black plastic watch with a digital quartz movement. The automatic watches will be the ones which will be family heirlooms and passed to various nieces and nephews. The quartz watches will "do their thing" during my lifetime, but will eventually reside in a dump someplace beneath rotting banana peels and old cardboard boxes. :)

~ Blue Jays ~
 
Typical mass-produced mechanical movements aren't really heirloom quality, and most wont be worth anything in 20 years either.

Unless you are going to get into serious high-art mechanical watches, I'd recommend sticking with quartz.
 
Hi Carlos-

My automatics include models from Audemars Piguet, Jaeger LeCoultre, IWC, and Glashutte Original so they'll clearly be worth maintaining for several generations much less a mere twenty years.

A decent automatic from companies like Omega, Sinn, Fortis, Tutima, or similar will easily last a hundred years with periodic scheduled maintenance. Figure on servicing an automatic with detailed cleaning and lubrication every five to six years.

Quartz watches are ideal for work or recreation where one will encounter signficant vibration from powertools or firearms, shocks from sudden impacts such as whitewater rafting, or when theft could be a concern.

~ Blue Jays ~
 
Blue Jays said:
Hi EricO-

... or simply advise you to discard the watch if it isn't cost-effective to conduct the repair.
The quartz watches will "do their thing" during my lifetime, but will eventually reside in a dump someplace beneath rotting banana peels and old cardboard boxes. :)

~ Blue Jays ~
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Blue Jay - Yikes! :eek: Discard the watch if it isn't cost effective? Even in the early 90's this was expensive (for me at least ;) ) and I believe one that uses similar materials today is about 3 times as much in the Omega line. (Those of you in know can help me out with that) It seems that just the solid stainless ones today cost what this two tone stainless/gold one cost then. I sure as heck hope that a replacement quartz movement from Omega isn't going to cost so much that it would be deemed not "cost effective!" I'd be one unhappy guy.
6d1e9d8e.jpg

Eric
Photo info: Springfield Armory loaded model 1911, mild custom work by Don Williams and matte hard chrome by Virgil Tripp. Milt Sparks SSII iwb holster, Okuden custom knife/sheath, SeaMaster Pro, and required reading from Rex Stout.
 
EricO said:
I sure as heck hope that a replacement quartz movement from Omega isn't going to cost so much that it would be deemed not "cost effective!" I'd be one unhappy guy.
Click to expand...

I wouldn´t be too worried. Omega keeps a stockpile of spare parts for years to come, and they seem to do major repairs as a part of the regular maintenance. I have a Seamaster from the early seventies with a tuning fork calibre; that type of electronic movement was only available for a few years, before quartz took over. It stopped working some time in the eighties, and four years ago I finally had my jeweller send it to Omega for repair. In the end I had to pay the usual service fee (still not quite cheap, of course). And judging by the bag of old damaged parts I received together with my repaired watch, they must have replaced a good portion of that exotic old movement.

Also, before sending it in the jeweller said that if I wanted to save money, then he could simply replace the movement with some standard quartz movement, for about $50, if I remember correctly. So I would think there will always be some affordable way to keep your watch running.

Kristofer
 
Hi EricO-

Omega is a well-respected company that isn't going anywhere. I'm sure they'll be able to help find a solution years down the road when the circuitry requires replacement. The somewhat limited lifespan of quartz is the strategy behind why I obtain automatics as my "keepers" and quartz watches for "heavy-duty" work purposes. It builds the most flexibility and maximizes your investment. Enjoy!

~ Blue Jays ~
 
So what exactly "runs out" or "fails" on a quality quartz watch?

I like to see some published statistics on that because otherwise it sounds what an automatic watch dealer would say so you'd feel better about how much money you've just spent. ;)
 
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